The Ultimate Celtics Team 

How many franchises have a better Ultimate Team than the Celtics?? Are there any? CORRECTION: At 6:02, I said that Cousy had easily the MOST consecutive seasons leading the league in APG. Thats incorrect. John Stockton had 9 straight and is the record holder. Cousy has easily the *2nd most.

You need to keep doing these. There’s so many underrated players that get left out of their franchises all time teams

As a Celtics fan for over 40 years, I approve of this list.

If only we could see this roster play together. All in their primes. Just one game, it'd be an unimaginable experience

I don’t know if you pointed this out, but this team is very clutch.

God this one must have been a nightmare to narrow down. I do it every once in while when I am bored but I have so much trouble with it. It just feels wrong to leave out DJ when one of the parameters is chemistry and watching the Celtics play sometimes it seemed like DJ was specially made in a lab to grow up to play with Bird and Mchale. They fit so perfectly together. Thank you for the video. These things are always fascinating to think about.

Dennis Johnson and Larry had an unmatched duo IQ! I’d put him in the first sqaud

Great list. I will put Dennis Johnson instead of Ray Ray, as a Celtics he is truly underrated. Great defender and leader.

You know they have a great roster when the Big Ticket can legitimately me put on the 2nd unit. I was happy to see Antoine Walker and Bill Walton on the honorable mentions.

Please keep this series up. This is definitely one of my favorite series on your channel. As a younger basketball fan, I'm very interested in learning more about basketball history.

@jonnyarnett, As a big Celtics fan for 53 years or so (I'm 61), I was really excited to finally see your all-time Celtics team. Havlicek is my all-time favorite player, and I predicted you would start him at shooting guard (which was the correct decision). I'm also glad you placed the underrated Cowens at center ahead of Parish. It would be very hard for me to leave the equally underrated Sam Jones off of the first two teams, but I was at least relieved you included him among the next three players. I would start Cousy over Rondo, and Pierce at shooting guard on the second team seems a little wonky to me although I understand why you did it. And I certainly won't argue with those who advocate for Dennis Johnson and or Jo Jo White (another underrated player). Lastly, Paul Silas is another underrated gem deserving of a spot on the honorable mention list. Regarding other teams, the Lakers certainly would be right there with the Celtics and the 76ers wouldn't be far behind. I can't wait to see how you handle placing Wilt, Kareem and Shaq in their Laker years at the center position. Could a younger Shaq possibly play power forward?

Glad your continuing this serirs

Celtics prob the most stacked team all time doing this. Perfect list

Well done Jonny. I anticipated this team being one of, if not the most difficult list to make. Them and my Lakers. I anticipate the Lakers video.

You know the all tome lakers would bear this squad. Shaq and Wilt coming of the bench

I love this series. I love this team ☘️💚 Bill Russell also knew how to direct a block and a rebound. I would put DJ higher. Underrated team guy. He could shift the locker room and he had an almost emphatic connection to other players. He was pretty clutch.

Been waiting for this now waiting for the Clips/braves

I absolutely love this series!

This about to be peak🔥

Bout time! Been waiting for this

I think the scariest part of this team is that Russell and Bird are 1 and 2(maybe 3) in elevating their teammates. Russell scouting this squad, then Bird's court-intuition... as great as each player was, they would be better.

Excellent Excellent

Wow, was waiting for this one but was expecting Cousy vs Rondo in the starting unit, very surprising! Only the Lakers might challenge this one.

Arguably my favourite series on RU-vid at the moment. Don’t stop making excellent NBA content Jonny. 👍👍

Glad u brought it back man

This is an amazing lineup. The starting 5 is mindblowing. They're so good at defense and 4 of the 5 guys are superb rebounders. Plus, they are selfless and there would be lots of great passing. The second unit is scary also - esp w/KG, Pierce, and Taytum. Those 3 - along with Cousy's passing and Cowen's double doubles - would be so hard to stop. Allen is such an incredible shooter also. He and Jones would bring a lot of spacing and it would be fun to see them together off the bench. The Celtics are so deep at center too. Def hard to see Parrish as a 3rd option here but it makes sense with Russell and Cowens on the team also. Good video. Have a wonderful day, Jonny 😊!

I’ve been waiting for this one! 🔥

Nice series! I am also really appreciating the series you have started about conference depth from each decade. Looking forward getting to know more about Bird's competitors in the 80s West too! Greets

Love these vids. You do a great job

KC Jones not even making the honorable mentions is sad

Love this series keep it coming

Another banger all time lineup! Celtics is one of the teams that have so much talented and great players over the years. Great video man looking forward for the other teams!

Keep this up cause this is great 💯💯💯

Finally. I was waiting for this one. Great video!!

This series is fire!

That last graphic is terrifying to imagine on a court. Sam Jones (justifiably) being a rotation player speaks volumes about how many Celtics legends there have been.

Great video!! I'm hoping that when you get done with this series you give us your top 5 ultimate teams!

One of my favorite series youve done so far, wpuld lobe to see all these finsl rosters in a simulation at some point

Thank you for this series, I can’t wait for who you’ll have on your all time Raptors team

The second he put Rondo in there, I thought oh god he better have Cousy on this team! 😂 I would argue that the lower field goal percentages in the 60s weren’t as much due to a lack of skill, or bad jump shots, as much as it was due to an incredible pace that hasn’t been seen in the NBA since, and as mentioned the ridiculously strict dribbling rules. It was so difficult to create space back then, because the rules made crossovers, advanced layups, and stop-go moves very primitive- but not because these players weren’t capable of doing such things, just that the game didn’t allow it. Give Cousy the ability to touch the bottom of the basketball like nowadays, stop and start the dribble like they do today, and allow moves like the euro-step and foul baiting, and also increased leniency on offensive fouls, and Cousy would have been a far more efficient scorer.

For me honestly you should've definitely put Jayson Tatum as shooting guard in that ultimate Boston team with Larry, Russel, Rondo and others. For me he would fit perfect with them because he doesn't pass the ball soo much, there are already some players who are legendary passers and thry need someone who will dominate with his shooting and scoring and guess what? That's exacly what Tatum would do.

I love this series. keep going jonny

Jonny, do you know much about Fred Brown from in the 1970s? Would love to see a video about him.

I've been waiting for this video

you need to keep this up. these be better than most analysts lineups

Plz keep continuing this series I love it and learning abt more nba players

Thank you for educating us Mr. Arnett

Peak Rondo was something else ❤

I'm also loving this series.

Nice job! No major quibbles, though I think I'd probably have gone smaller. Also really tough for me to know what to do with some of the 60s guys because the game was just so, so different. This is my stab at it. Note: I'm building a team fo play in 2023, so I'm somewhat ignoring what positions players actually played. Additionally, I am by no means suggesting these are the 13 best Celtics players. I'm simply trying to put together a team that makes the most sense based on a modern philosophy): Starters: PG: Havlicek SG: Tatum SF: Bird PF: Garnett C: Russell Hondo isn't a traditional PG, but in a modern offense, I don't think a traditional pg who has the ball all the time is that important. He also averaged >7 apg multiple times, and between him and Bird i really have no concerns about the ball moving and open players getting hit. The bigging improvement here, I think, is shooting, and as good a defender and Rebounder as McHale was, Garnet was simply better at both. 2nd Unit (though I doubt I'd do much traditional 1st unit comes off, 2nd unit goes on stuff, and rather rotate starters off for backups throughout the game): PG: Rondo (really love his inclusion in your list - such an incredibly underrated player in his prime) SG: Allen SF: Brown PF: Pierce C: Parrish To the extend this unit plays as a unit, its about spacing the floor for Rondo to work or Pierce to get in to his midrange bag as well as supplying what the starters might need for stretches of games: more shooting and options to go to a small ball lineup. Depth: DJ Derrick White Horford This is where it gets hard and where some people are 100% going to balk as some selections/omissions, based on career resumes and accomplishments, but again, I'm trying to build a real team here. Real teams need guys to play roles and to many superstars is not necessarily a good thing. These guys do things that help teams win and make an impact on winning even in relatively small roles. All are great, versatile defenders. Horford and White provide more shooting and secondary ball handling when needed and Horford gives them a great option for a switchable big who can hold up down low and also still provide spacing.

Such a phenomenal pool of talent to draw from. Like others here, I'd find it difficult to leave DJ off the team, but it's also tough to pick someone to leave off your roster. Excellent series; cannot wait to see the Pistons, Jazz, and Suns.

Please keep on doing this series It's been great to watch.

Ngl nvr stop doing this series. I learn about so many different players and teams with this

Will you be doing this for defunct teams like the Seattle Supersonics?

Those names give me instant goosebumps! Just too many Legends :-)

Sick video please make this a series

“Rondo to Hondo” has a nice ring to it.

this team would hold the opponent to single didget scoring

The ultimate expression of team play. Unbeatable. The DREAM TEAM OF THE NBA and professional basketball the emphasis on TEAM. Of course there is another DREAM team in the NBA, that one is made of the best players of the NBA.

Hey Jonny, out of curiousity when it comes to the Thunder are you going to be combining the Sonics teams there too? I'm not sure that OKC has enough of a rich history to make a great ultimate team, but the Sonics do. Combining them would be awesome.

That is one KICK ASS YEAM for sure! You certainly cannot go wrong with this selection!!

Great team only change I would make would be Dennis Johnson as the backup PG

Please do a series on all the NBA teams because these videos are dope

Can't wait for the Lakers vid, it's about to be stacked!

Wow this was a difficult task…great list. I personally might have shifted Garnett and McHale but I completely see the logic and choice anyways.

Love it

i love these series, i just hope you included a coach for these teams

Another one 🔥

This might be the best all around starting 5...but Johnny you gotta realize that the reason fg% was so low...was not because of the players...but more so the rule set and style of play...the game was less offensive favored...less space, big men could camp, no carrying, no 3 point, double hand checking was allowed etc...all this lead to a fast break oriented league, with awkward movement half court setting...the game has become far easier...also if you consider that fact that they shot 20-30 more times on average and only had about a 3-4% dip in efficiency...it's not bad at all relatively speaking

Does anyone else wonder if this team might be a little undersized at center? The cool thing is they have two very long PF to make up for it. I was also surprised to see DJ left off the list.

Great video GO CELTICS ☘️☘️☘️☘️

First video watched and had to insta sub. Well done and look forward to rest. Great job sir

This team vs the ultimate Bulls team would be one fun as heck series

Had to come back to this one after seeing the lakers... it's ridiculous how stacked that Lakers squad is top to bottom

I completely agree with this list

Dope!

Respectfully, I'd rather have Dennis Johnson as the starting point guard than Rajon Rondo (especially in view of his famously great chemistry with Bird). DJ did everything at an elite level, and focused on whatever would win. That's why he was already a FMVP when he joined the Celtics!

My version - Assuming we play current day basketball: Starting - PG: Cousy, SG: Havlicek, SF: Bird, PF: Tatum, Center: KG Bench - PG: Rondo, SG: Allen, SF: Pierce, PF: McHale, Center: Russel +3 - Parish, Sam Jones, Nate Archibald. Why: Starting units has a good amount of offense (Bird/Tatum/KG fed by Cousy with the occasional Havlicek freebie, since he's arguably the worst offensive player out of the bunch). With a solid defense KG/Bird/Havlicek who are proven defenders and Tatum who has high potential on that department that is hard to reach in his current team because he is the first option on offense. Now in this team he can focus on his defense a lot more with Bird being a first option and KG/Tatum sharing the number 2 slot. The bench works off of chemistry. We've seen what Rondo/Allen/Pierce can do as a trio. We pop in with them McHale, who is basically a Kevin Garnett if he was not a first option. And we add in the ultimate winner. All 5 of these players are over average defenders when it comes to their primes (Which is an understatement when you think of Wilt and McHale at the very least). Pierce and McHale can carry the offensive load off the bench, with Allen getting the easy open threes (when he's not on a hot streak) or the entire offense can be ran through him (if he's heated up for the night). Regarding the last three rotation players, I doubt they'd get that much play time, since the rest of the team is pretty balanced overall, but I figured Nate would be a good way to get some scoring off your point guard, in case the enemy team has a mediocre/bad defender at Point. Parish was an iron-man and would easily cover the whole that KG might leave. (since when looking at the starting/bench unit, he's arguably the most injury prone of the bunch) Sam Jones could run the 2 or 3, and his chemistry with Russel and Havlicek (and Cousy to some degree) could make a great impact.

Love the video! We going to be seeing some love for a western conference team any time soon? 😇

The amount of talent on this roster is making me pull a Paul Pierce rn

Bill Walton just LURKING in the HM section is crazy when you think about it. Prolly deserves a spot

5:50 thats such an insane play holy

I was curious how you were gonna handle multiple different positions on thus team. PG and center were definitely tight choices. Imagine Mchale in the post one on one with Bird, ray Allen, havlicek spacing the court with KG or Russell guarding the paint on D. This team will only be rivalled the lakers team and is definitely the best so far.

I don't think any team can beat this Celtics squad. I guess we'll see when you get to the Lakers. Kudos for giving Parrish some love . He's become a forgotten great. He is worthy of a video....

Larry Bird said that Dennis Johnson is the best player that he ever played with. That’s enough for me.

You should consider doing a March Madness type tournament with everyone's ultimate team. Would love your POV on how that would go.

🏀

The starting 5 he picked was the exact same starting 5 I picked with the all-time Celtics in 2k19👌

Rondo over Cousy is just nuts. Please give props to Houdini.

Wow. 13 Roster Spots and 53 Rings total! Insane!

Great video once again, Reggie Lewis rip

this is a great series... you should've also included coaches

Just an idea if these videos do well and you're able to do videos on all 30 teams you should do a video with a playoff bracket to find the ultimate team

After you do all the teams you should make a video on which is the best!

Nice video Jonny, as always... But you how on earth could you omit BRIAN SCALABRINE

Yeah this will be tough to beat

Honestly might be the best all time team not just because of talent but because the 3 mega stars Larry Bird, Kevin Garnett, and Bill Russell fit incredibly well with basically any other teammates.

Maybe the Lakers Unfortunately I'm waiting on you my man great Video great Team

Second unit vs. The starters might be the best game ever.

Cousy, Hondo, Bird, Mchale, Russell Rondo, Sam Jones, Pierce, KG, Cowens Parish, Allen and DJ.